Valve-operating mechanism



W. U. GRIFFITHS.v VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM. Y

APPLICATION man ocT..21. 191s.

1,356,278. Patented 19,1920.

2 '-SHEET 2.

ai a? f FIG.2.

7/ III' UNITED STATESv XVILLIAM U'. GRIFFITHS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 19,1920.

Application led October 21, 19178. Serial No..259,096.

T0 all fio/2,0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM U. GRIF- rITr-rs, a citizen of the United States, and `a resident or' Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Valve- Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication.

My inventiongrelates to a valve operating mechanism and is particularly well adapted for the operation and-control of valves employed in flush tanks ofwater closet apparatus for controlling the flow of water therefrom. It will be understood, however, that the principle of myv invention maybe applicable to other forms of construction and apparatus than that referred to.

The construction disclosed in this application relates to apparatus similar to that shown in my application, Serial No.,127,5418, liled October 25, 1916, but is an' improvement thereover in that the construction is simplified and is more compact.

vOne of the objects of my present invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of valve structure and means for operating and closing the same.

- Other objects and vadvantages of my invention will be pointed out in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent from lsuch description.

. In order that the practical and commercial advantages ofl invention may be more readily apparent, reference may be had to the 'accompanying drawings: in which I have illustrated a form of construction which is at present preferred by me, but it will be understood thatmy invention is susceptible of embodiment vin other forms 'than that shown without departing yfrom the same as it is pointed out and defined in the claims.

In the drawings: f

Figurel is a vertical, sectional view of a portion of a fiush tank. providedwith my invention and showing the latter in side elevation; and Fig. 2 is a similar viewwith the operating mechanism.A in the position shown in Fig. 1, in dotted lines but with the valve in open position.

Referring to thedrawings:v 1 designates the bottom of a hopper for a water 'closet apparatus and 2 the upper end portion of a flush pipe which projects through the said bottom into the said tank, the upper end of which constitutes a port leading from the said tank. 8 designates an overow pipe vof the character usually found in flush tanks oit this character. 4c designates a valve for closing theupper end of the pipe 2, constitutmg the port leading from the flush tank as above stated, which valve is pivotally connected at 5 to an arm 6 which is pivoted upon a pivot 7 carried by'a projection 8 which extends from the upper end of the pipe 2. The outer swinging end of the arm 6 is provided with a float 10. As a part of the means for effecting the opening of the valve and also for causing a tight closure thereof, I have' provided a swinging arm 15 which is situated above the arm 6 a'nd also is pivoted upon the pivot 7 The said'arm, near its pivot end, is provided with ay laterally Yextending projection 16, constituting a weight, which extends in a direction away from the swinging` end thereof.' It extends across a vertical plane through the pivot 7. rIhe outer swinging end of the arm 15 is provided with an integral, plate-like portion 18, which extends transversely of and very nearly atrright angles with respect thereto. The lower end portion of the said plate 18 is provided with 'a slot 19, which extends from the dottedline c to the dotted line b. y'The edge ofthe plate 18 is notched as shown so that the arm 6 may be inserted into the slot or opening 19 ywhichv extends between the dotted lines a and" v When in .closed position, as shownv in Fig. 1, the weight of the arm 15 is greater than and over balances theJ weight of theprojection 16, so that the upper endet of they slot 19 is in contact withlthe arm 6, as shown.l The Jforce, due to gravity, exerted by the Varmfl, though diminished by the counter- Y balancing weight of the projection 16, tends to and does hold the .valve L1 in tightly closed position upon the upper end of the tube or pipe 2. In order to open the valve 4;, I haveprovided an operating rod 25 ywhich is slidably mounted in a hollow post 26. which is securedto the rbottom of the tank andextends upwardly therein to a *pointv above the normal level of thewwater in The lower end of the said opthe tank.

erating rod is provided with a weight 27 which is adjustably connected thereto. The adjustment of the weight 27 is desirable because it is intended that the operating rod shall be operated automatically by the contact of a projection from the seat of a water closet or other movable member. It is apparent, therefore, that it may become necessary to adjust the member 27 in order to vary its position so as to control the exact point at which the means for operatn ing the same will contact therewith.

The upper end of the operating rod 25 is connected with the lower end of a link 30,

the upper end of which is yconnected with the one end of an arm 31 of a bell crank lever which is secured by means of a binding screw 32 to a pivot 33, which is pivotally supported upon a bracket Se secured to the upper end o1"- the guiding and bearing post 26. rEhe opposite arm 85 of the bell crank lever extends downwardly into the flush tank, and is provided at its lower swinging end with a pivoted tripping lever 36 which lever is secured by means ot a binding screw 37 to a pivot 38 which is pivotally supported in an opening through the end of the arm 35. The end of the pivoted tripping member 36 is extended as indicated at 410, such extension being adapted to bear against the under side ot the lower end portion of the arm 35 and to constitute a stop to limit pivotal movement or' the tripping member 36 toward the left.

ln operation, the operating rod 25 is irst moved upwardly through the tubular bearing post 26 by any suitable means, as, for instance, a projection from the rear portion of a water closet seat. Such upward movement causes an upward movement of the arm 31 oi the bell crank lever and a simultaneous swinging movement of the arm 35 tothe lett. Such swinging movement carries the lower end of the tripping member 36 beyond the upper end of the plate 18 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. ln moving to such position, the lower end of the tripping member 36 contacts with the upper end of the plate 18. The member 36, being pivoted,

turns about its pivot and slides over thel upper edge of the plate 18. Afterit passes over the upper edge of said plate, it returns to normal position with the projecting stop extension Ll() thereof in Contact with the lett edge of the lower end of the arm 35, as shown. When the means which holds the operating rod 25 in elevated position is released to permit the said rod to return to normal position under the influence of its own weight and that of the weight 27, thebell crank lever is returnedto normal position, the arm 35 being carried to the right. ln moving to the right, the lower end of the tripping member 36 contacts with the surface at the left hand side of the upper end of the plate 18. The stop extension 40 being in contact with the underside of the arm 35, the tripping member 36 is prevented from turning about its pivot when the arm 35 is being moved toward the right. Consequently the arm 15, by reason of the Contact at such time of the tripping member 36 with the upper end portion of the plate, is swung to the right about its pivot, the plate 1S being elevated. As the said plate is elevated, the lower end b of the slot 19 contacts with the arm 5 and lifts the same .together with the valve f1- to open the latter.

rwater is lowered, the weight'of the float 10 and of the lever 6 exerted upon the arm 15 by reason of the contact of the arm 6 with the lower end Z2 of the opening 19, overcomes the weight of the projection 16 and the portion of the lever 15 to the right of the pivot 7, so as to cause pivotal movement of the arm 15 aswell as of the arm 6 toward the left. rlhe arms 15 and 6 for a time move in unison; that is, for a time the arm 6 remains in contact with the lower end b of thel slot or'op'ening 19.A However, after the arms y15 and 6 have moved into positions such that the valve 4; has arrived at a position near the port and is about to close the same, the weight of the arm 15 overcomes the counterbalancing weight of the projection 16, so that the arm falls toward the left and in moving through the distance equal to that of the length 01"' the slot 19, .acquires considerable momentum, so that when the upper end a of the said slot contacts with the arm 6, the latter is suddenly moved downwardly with considen able `torce, relatively speaking, so that the valve l is caused to strike against the upper end of the pipe or tube2 and tightly close the upper end thereof.

lnthe construction as illustrated the arms 6 and 15 move inthe same vertical plane, but it will be understood that the said arms may be so mounted as to swing or move in diierent parallel planes, in which case the the latter by means of a lever and cord in known manner, the latter being' connected at its lower end in the flush tank to the projection Ll1 upon the arm 6.

Although it is preferred that means operating upon the principle illustrated in the drawings for actuating and controlling the valve structure shall be employedTit will be understood that means of other construction and operating upon a different principle may be employed. It will also be understood that the operation of the'arm 15 is the saine regardless of the manner in which the said arm 15 and the arm 6 are raised and lowered.

I claim:

1. 1n combination, an arm pivoted at one end and having a valve secured intermediate itsends for closing an opening, a second arm also pivoted at one end and adapted to swing in a plane coincident with or parallel to that in which the-first named arm swings, a' lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having a tripping member pivotally connected to an arm of said lever and adapted to contact with said second named arm or a part carried thereby, and means whereby said tripping member is permitted to turn about its pivot in one direction from its normal position and held against turning movement in the opposite direction :from such position, whereby movement of said lever and member in one direction only causes movement of said second named arm, and the said second named arm having means for contacting with the first named arm to cause movement thereof to eifect opening and closing movements of said valve.

2. In combination, an arm pivoted at one end, a valve secured to said arm at a point intermediate its ends, said valve being adapted to open and close a port leading from Hush tank, a float carried upon the outer swinging end of said arm, a second arm pivoted at one end and swinging in a plane coincident with or parallel to that in which the first named arm swings, said second named arm being provided with a plate at its outer swinging end, said plate having an elongated slot through which the iirst named arm extends, means for contacting with the said plate to cause swinging movement of the second named arm to carry the lower-end of the said slot into contact with the first namedarm to lift the latter to open the said valve, and the upper end of said slot adapted to contact with the said arm to effect sudden kclosing movement of the first named lever andhold the latter with the said valve in tightly closed position after the latter has once been closed.

3. In combination, an arm pivoted at one end and carrying at its outer end a float, a valve secured to Vsaid arm intermediate its ends, said valve being adapted to close a port, aseco'n'd pivoted arm pivotally movable in ay plane coincident lwith or parallelV end and carrying at its outer swinging end ak fioat, a valve securedto the said arm intermediate its ends and adapted to close a port leading from a flush tank, a second pivoted Y arm pivotally movable in a plane coincident with orparallel to the pivotal movements of the first named arm, the said second named arm carrying at .its outer swinging end means having movable connection with the said first named arm, the said arms being adapted to move together and independently of" each other, and means for causing movement of' the said arms to open and close the said valve.

5. In combination, an arm pivoted at one end and carrying a float at its outer end, a valve securedto said arm intermediate. its ends and adapted to open and close a port leading from the liush tank of a water closet apparatus, a second armpivoted at one end co-axially with the pivot of the first named arm, the said second named arm being provided with a part at its outer swinging end extending transversely of the length of the said second named arm, said part having an opening extending therethrough through which the first named arm extends, the upper and lower ends of said opening being adapted to contact with the said first named arm, and means for causing movement of the said arms to open and close the said valve.

6. In a water closet apparatus, in combination, an arm pivoted at one end and carrying a float at its outer swinging end, a valve secured to said arm and adapted to open and close a port leading from the Hush tank of said apparatus, a second arm pivoted at one end and extending in the same direction from its pivot as the first named arm, said second named arm being provided at its outer swinging end with a part extending transversely thereof, the lower end of said part having connection with the first named arm, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, one of the arms of said lever extending toward the said arms and having pivotally connected therewith a pivoted tripping member which is adapted to contact Vwith the upper end of the part carried by the outer swinging end of the second named arm, and means for causing pivotal swinging movement of the said lever to swing the said tripping member across the ripper end Vof the said part, the said tripping member sliding over the top of said part when moving in one direction and contacting with the upper portion of said part when being moved 1n the opposite d1- rection to cause upward swinging movement thereof together with the said arms t0 effect opening movement of the said valve.

7. In a water closet apparatus, in combination, an arm pivoted at oneV end and carrying a float at its outer end, a valve secured to said arm intermediate its ends and adapted to open and close a port leading from the flush tank of said apparatus, a second arm pivoted at one end and extending in the same direction from its pivot as the first named arm and being provided at its outer end with a transversely extending part, said part being provided with an opening through which the iirst named arm eX- tends and in which the said arm is relatively movable vertically, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, one end portion of said lever extending toward the said arms and terminating in operative relation thereto, a tripping member secured to the lower end of Said portion, the said tripping member being permitted to move pivotally in one direction, means for preventing pivotal move-` ment of the said tripping member in the opposite direction, and means for causing pivotal movement of said lever 4to cause movement of the end portion thereof carrying the said tripping member in a direction to slide the latter over the upper end of the part carried by the outer swinging end of the vsecond named arm, the said tripping member pivoting as it slides over the upper end of said part and the said tripping member contacting with the said part as it returns to normal position to cause upward swinging movement thereof together with the said arms to operate the said valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of September, A. D. 1918.

WILLIAM U. GRIFFITHS. 

